When it grew dark, a number of colored lamps were lighted

Da det ble m rkt, ble en rekke fargede lamper tent

the sailors and royal family danced merrily on the deck

sj mennene og kongefamilien danset lystig p dekk

The little mermaid could not help thinking of her birthday

Den lille havfruen kunne ikke la v re tenke p bursdagen sin

the day that she rose out of the sea for the first time

dagen da hun sto opp av havet for f rste gang

similar joyful festivities were celebrated on that day

lignende gledelige festligheter ble feiret den dagen

she thought about the wonder and hope she felt that day

hun tenkte p undringen og h pet hun f lte den dagen

with those pleasant memories, she too joined in the dance

med de hyggelige minnene ble hun ogs med p dansen

on her paining feet, she poised herself in the air

p de smertefulle f ttene stilte hun seg opp i luften

the way a swallow poises itself when in pursued of prey

m ten en svale balanserer seg p n r den blir forfulgt av byttedyr

the sailors and the servants cheered her wonderingly

sj mennene og tjenestefolkene jublet henne undrende

She had never danced so gracefully before

Hun hadde aldri danset s grasi st f r

Her tender feet felt as if cut with sharp knives

De mme f ttene hennes f ltes som om de var sk ret med skarpe kniver

but she cared little for the pain of her feet

men hun brydde seg lite om smertene i f ttene